This winter has been quite grim in this valley, mostly cloudy and rainy, very unlike the previous ones. So, once the weather forecast promised some sun for this Monday we decided to take the day off and go hiking, which we have not done much because of the weather, but also because the house buying and moving project has occupied us.

Our destination was Tour de Montfallet, one of the oldest Medieval structures in our department, dating back to the 12th century. The tower is believed to be part of an ancient fortress. It was a very convenient destination  since it was only a short drive away from home (just 10 kilometers), and the road wasn’t too tricky (or icy). We can actually see the tower from our living room.

We started the hike in the village of Laval on Belledonne range and first climbed to the tower at the altitude of 710m.

After the visit to the tower we continued our hike in the valley of the stream of Laval. We had taken the snowshoes with us, but realized soon that there was no need for them. Where ever there was snow, it was quite walkable in our hiking shoes. Only once, in the very beginning, we chose another route since the trail in the shade was too icy. The route contained quite a bit of climbing, but otherwise it was quite easy (11K in 3h 10mins, D+/D- 465m). It also got very warm on the sunny slope even if the air temperature barely reached above zero, but after the sun went down behind the trees it got quite chilly.

Our new home is conveniently located so that we have shorter and quicker access to Chartreuse and Belledonne ranges than from the downtown Grenoble. Only the Vercors range, where we usually had gone skiing, is now father away.